Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Patent Attorney shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Patent Attorney offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Patent Attorney at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Patent Attorney? Wrong! If the Patent Attorney is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Patent Attorney then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Patent Attorney? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Patent Attorney and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Patent Attorney wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Patent Attorney then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Patent Attorney site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Patent Attorney, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Patent Attorney, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

A patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition. The term is used differently in different countries, and thus may or may not require the same legal qualifications as a general legal practitioner.

The titles patent agent and patent lawyer are also used in some jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions the terms are interchangeable, in others the latter is generally used only if the person qualified as a lawyer.

Qualification regimes In Europe, the requirements for practising as patent attorney before national patent offices should be distinguished from those needed for practising before the European Patent Organisation (EPO). On the national level, the requirements are not harmonized across the European Union, except that the EU makes sure that respective professional qualifications are mutually recognised to some degree.

Australia Registration as a patent attorney in Australia is administered by the Professional Standards Board for Patents and Trade Marks Attorneys (the "PSB").http://www.psb.gov.au/about.htm

To apply to become an Australian patent attorney, one must:

  • Pass the nine topics set out in Schedule 5 to the Patent Regulations 1991.
  • Hold a suitable tertiary educational qualification in a field of technology that contains potentially patentable subject matter.
  • Be an Australian resident.
  • Have worked for a year as:
  • a technical assistant (trainee patent attorney) in a patent attorney's practice;
  • an employee in a company in Australia, practising patent matters on behalf of that company; or
  • an examiner of patents at IP Australia (the Australian Patent Office).
  • Be of good fame, integrity or character, and not have been convicted within the past five years of offences against Patents, Trade Marks and Designs legislation.http://www.psb.gov.au/patreg.htm


    • Until the late 1990s, topics were mainly taught and examined by members of the patent attorney profession under the oversight of the PSB, but this process has now been brought into the university system within Australia.

    Once registered, a Patent and Trademark Attorney may be elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia.http://www.ipta.com.au/

    Canada To become a registered patent agent in Canada one must first complete a twelve-month mentorship training program as well as complete a series of four qualifying exams.

    Each of the four exams (also referred to individually as Paper A, B, C, and D) is four hours in length. Paper A relates to the preparation of a patent application. Paper B relates to the validity of a patent. Paper C relates to the preparation of a response to an Official Action. Paper D relates to the infringement of a patent. Unlike the US system, the Canadian examination format is paper based and is offered once yearly in April. Results are posted in the autumn of the same year.

    The exam is notoriously challenging and most applicants attempt the exam over several years. In order to pass, candidates must score a minimum of 50 out of 100 on each paper, with a minimum aggregate mark of 240 on all four papers. Recent amendments to the pass requirements enable candidates to carry forward paper marks (greater than 60 out of 100), if the minimum aggregate mark is not achieved.

    Review courses are held each summer and fall by IPIC (Intellectual Property Institute of Canada). The summer course tends to be more general in scope than the fall course, where drafting practice examinations is emphasised.

    Once certified, a registered patent agent is given powers under the Patent Act (Canada) to represent applicants applying to the Canadian Patent Office to obtain patent protection. Canadian registered patent agents may apply for U.S. patent agent status in order to act on behalf of Canadian resident applicants before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

    European Patent Organisation The task of the European Patent Organisation (EPO), which is the main organ of the European Patent Organisation, is to grant European patents. The EPO is not legally bound to the European Union, instead being an international body set up under an entirely different international treaty, the European Patent Convention (EPC).

    In order to be entitled to represent clients (generally patent applicants, proprietors and opposition procedure before the European Patent Offices) before the EPO, a patent attorney must first be registered to act in that capacity as a professional representative. To be registered, an individual must qualify as a Representation before the European Patent Office and, to that end, must pass a pencil-and-paper examination, the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). European Patent Office web site, The European qualifying examination (EQE), consulted on November 23, 2006. The EQE consists of four papers sat over three days, each day lasting between 6 hours and seven and a half hours. In order to enroll for the examination, an engineering or scientific degree is required (though long experience in a scientific domain can be sufficient under certain very limited conditions), and the candidate must also have practised under supervision for at least three years in the domain of national or European patent law.

    The EPC sets out the circumstances under which an applicant for a European patent must be represented by a professional representative in proceedings before the EPO. Typically, a representative is required if the patent applicant (or all of them if more than one) do not have a place of business in an EPC contracting state.

    Germany In Germany, only Patent Attorneys (or Attorneys-at-Law, who are entitled to represent clients in all fields of law) are entitled to represent clients from abroad before the Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA). German Patent Attorneys have done their university degrees in engineering or natural sciences and practised in industry before being accepted for additional three years education, i. e. passing a legal training of two years with an established attorney, at the same time studies of German Law and afterwards a training in intellectual property and an examination at the DPMA. They are further entitled to represent their clients before the German federal court of patents (and trademarks) and in patent cases (nullity) before the German Supreme Court. However, independent from their nationality, any natural person or any legal person who does not domicile in Germany or who has no place of business in Germany needs to be represented by a German patent attorney or attorney-at-law to participate in procedures and to claim any rights before the DPMA and the German federal court of patents (Bundespatentgericht, BPatG), however not before the German Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) which is second instance for nullity proceedings in patents.

    Japan Patent specialists in Japan are known as benrishi and must take a qualifying exam to receive the title. While not qualified as attorneys, they are given many attorney-like powers within the field of intellectual property law, including the ability to represent clients in litigation and arbitration within the area specified by Patent Attorney Law in Japan. Barristers (bengoshi) are also qualified to work in patent law.

    New Zealand In order to become registered as a Patent Attorney in New Zealand one must:

  • Be a New Zealand citizen, Commonwealth citizen (British subject) or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
  • Be aged 21 (twenty one) years of age or over.
  • Have passed the New Zealand Patent Attorney Examinations.
  • Be of good character.
  • Been employed for a period(s) of at least three years by a Patent Attorney in New Zealand, The Patent Office, or in a form of employment that offers substantially similar practical experience.


    • Registration as a Patent Attorney may then lead to election as a Fellow in the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys.

    Singapore To become registered as a Patent Agent in Singapore, one must:Requirements For Becoming a Registered Patent Agent from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

  • be a resident in Singapore;
  • hold a university degree or equivalent qualification approved by the Registrar;
  • have passed the patent and trademark law course;
  • have passed the 4 patent examinationsPatent Agents Qualifying Examination from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; and
  • have been supervised by a registered patent agent(or equivalent) for at least 12 months.


    • Once registered a Patent agent may then be elected as an ordinary member of the Association of Patent Agents of Singapore.

    United Kingdom Any person can act at the UK Patent Office, but the titles "Patent Attorney" (which is synonymous with "Patent Agent") and "Registered Patent Attorney" (which is synonymous with "Registered Patent Agent") are reserved for those duly qualifiedCopyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 276.

    Qualification is achieved by passing the JEB patent foundation level papers (or gaining an exemption by passing certain university courses such as that organised by Queen Mary University in London) and then the JEB patent advanced level papersCopyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 275; Register of Patent Agents Rules 1990; Regulations for the Examinations for the Registration of Patent Agents & Trade Mark Agents 1991..

    The JEB patent foundation papers are P1 - Patent Law and Procedures, P5 - Overseas Patent Law, D&C - Designs & Copyright, Law - Basic English Law, T1 - Basic UK Trademarks and T5 - Overseas Trademarks.

    The JEB patent advanced papers are P2 - Patent Practice, P3 - Drafting a Patent Application, P4 - Amending a Patent Application and P6 - Infringement and Validity of a Patent. Exemptions from P3 and P4 can be obtained by passing the corresponding European Qualifying Exams (Papers A & B respectively).

    The advanced papers are notoriously difficult. In 2006 only eight candidates from the whole of the UK passed all four advanced papers.

    Membership of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys as a fellow gives the right to call oneself a Chartered Patent Agent or Chartered Patent Attorney. (To become a fellow, a person must have passed the UK Advanced Level exams, have accrued sufficient professional experience and be nominated by two existing fellowshttp://www.cipa.org.uk/download_files/application_form_uk.pdf CIPA Membership Application Form including extract from Bye Laws.

    United States In the United States, a practitioner may either be a patent attorney or patent agent. Both patent attorneys and patent agents have the same license to represent clients before the Patent Office, part of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Both patent agents and patent attorneys may prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications for their clients before the Patent Office. Patent agents and patent attorneys may also provide patentability opinions, as noted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sperry v. Florida.373 United States Reports 379 (1963).

    Patent attorneys are also Admission to the bar in the United States in at least one state or Incorporated territory of the United States. Of the states, California has the most patent attorneys (and agents), followed by New York and Texas http://www.averyindex.com/2007_patent_states.php Top Patent States. Per capita, Delaware has more patent attorneys (and agents) than any state (not including DC). Both Patent Attorneys and Patent Agents are generally required to have a technical degree (such as engineering, chemistry or Physics) and must take and pass the Patent Office Bar Examination.http://www.averyindex.com/2007_patent_states_pc.php Top Patent States (Per Capita). Since patent attorneys are admitted to practice law in a state or territory, they can additionally provide legal services outside the Patent Office if practicing within the jurisdiction they are admitted to practice or if the law of the jurisdiction otherwise permits them to practice although not admitted in that jurisdiction. These legal services include advising a client on matters relating to the licensing of the invention; whether to appeal a decision by the Patent Office to a court; whether to sue for patent infringement; whether someone is infringing upon the claim (patent)s of a client's issued patent; and conversely, whether a client is infringing the claims of someone else's issued patent. Patent agents cannot provide legal services of this nature, nor can they represent clients before the Trademark Office part of the USPTO.

    In order to be registered as a patent agent or patent attorney, one must pass the USPTO registration examinationhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/grb15nov05.pdf General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Nov. 2005. This exam, commonly referred to as the "patent bar," tests a candidate's knowledge of patent law and USPTO policies and procedures as set forth in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Upon completion of the examination, one will be labeled as a patent attorney if he/she already has a law degree. However, engineers, scientists and any other science based majors will be labeled as a patent agent since they can not give legal advice nor support clients in courtrooms. The latest exam result statistics are from June 9, 2005 through October 17, 2006: during that time, 58.2% of the 4,165 candidates passed the exam, which was based upon MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 2. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/exam_results_mpep8ed_rev2.htm The current exam is based on MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 4, as of October 19, 2006. (No tests were given based upon MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 3.)

    A candidate must also have an adequate scientific and technical background or education to understand a client's invention. The educational requirement can be met by a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences (e.g. physics) or engineering. This is known as Category A qualification. One can also meet the scientific and technical training requirement by qualifying under Category B or Category C. Category B provides four distinct qualification options. Where each option sets a requisite number of semester hours in physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, and/or engineering. One can qualify under Category C through a showing that he or she has taken and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Specific details of the ways in which one can qualify for the USPTO registration examination are outlined in the USPTO Registration Statement. Degrees in the social sciences, mathematics or philosophy by themselves do not meet this requirement.

    A candidate must also possess "good moral character and reputation" (37 Code of Federal Regulations 11.7). If practicing outside the United States, a patent agent or patent attorney must be a U.S. citizen.

    India In India, a person registered to practice before Indian Patent Office is called as "Registered Patent Agent" or simply "Patent agent". A patent agent having a law degree is generally called as Patent Attorney, although Indian Patent Law specifically does not mention the designation of "Patent Attorney". Indian Patent Office conducts a qualifying examination for patent agent registration twice a year. Indian Patent Law mandates a science or technical degree for person(s) to appear for the qualifying examination. Other criteria for eligibility include being an Indian Citizen, and 21 years of age. There are approximately 1100 registered patent agents in India. However many of the patent agents got themselves registered without appearing for the qualifying examination before the amendment that took place recently has mandated the patent agent qualifying examination. It can also be inferred that many of them who got registered before the amendment took place do not have any science or technical degree.

    Ireland Under Section 107 of Ireland's Patents Act, 1992 entry in the Register of Patent Agents requires that the applicant resides and has a place in a European Union#Member states and possesses the prescribed educational and professional qualifications, which are:

    As in the UK (see above), exemptions from the Drafting and Amendment papers can be obtained if the equivalent papers in the European Qualifying Examination have been passed.

    Notable patent attorneys and agents See List of patent attorneys and agents, including fictional characters who are patent attorneys.

    References

    See also

    External links









    A patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition. The term is used differently in different countries, and thus may or may not require the same legal qualifications as a general legal practitioner.

    The titles patent agent and patent lawyer are also used in some jurisdictions. In some jurisdictions the terms are interchangeable, in others the latter is generally used only if the person qualified as a lawyer.

    Qualification regimes In Europe, the requirements for practising as patent attorney before national patent offices should be distinguished from those needed for practising before the European Patent Organisation (EPO). On the national level, the requirements are not harmonized across the European Union, except that the EU makes sure that respective professional qualifications are mutually recognised to some degree.

    Australia Registration as a patent attorney in Australia is administered by the Professional Standards Board for Patents and Trade Marks Attorneys (the "PSB").http://www.psb.gov.au/about.htm

    To apply to become an Australian patent attorney, one must:

  • Pass the nine topics set out in Schedule 5 to the Patent Regulations 1991.
  • Hold a suitable tertiary educational qualification in a field of technology that contains potentially patentable subject matter.
  • Be an Australian resident.
  • Have worked for a year as:
  • a technical assistant (trainee patent attorney) in a patent attorney's practice;
  • an employee in a company in Australia, practising patent matters on behalf of that company; or
  • an examiner of patents at IP Australia (the Australian Patent Office).
  • Be of good fame, integrity or character, and not have been convicted within the past five years of offences against Patents, Trade Marks and Designs legislation.http://www.psb.gov.au/patreg.htm


    • Until the late 1990s, topics were mainly taught and examined by members of the patent attorney profession under the oversight of the PSB, but this process has now been brought into the university system within Australia.

    Once registered, a Patent and Trademark Attorney may be elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia.http://www.ipta.com.au/

    Canada To become a registered patent agent in Canada one must first complete a twelve-month mentorship training program as well as complete a series of four qualifying exams.

    Each of the four exams (also referred to individually as Paper A, B, C, and D) is four hours in length. Paper A relates to the preparation of a patent application. Paper B relates to the validity of a patent. Paper C relates to the preparation of a response to an Official Action. Paper D relates to the infringement of a patent. Unlike the US system, the Canadian examination format is paper based and is offered once yearly in April. Results are posted in the autumn of the same year.

    The exam is notoriously challenging and most applicants attempt the exam over several years. In order to pass, candidates must score a minimum of 50 out of 100 on each paper, with a minimum aggregate mark of 240 on all four papers. Recent amendments to the pass requirements enable candidates to carry forward paper marks (greater than 60 out of 100), if the minimum aggregate mark is not achieved.

    Review courses are held each summer and fall by IPIC (Intellectual Property Institute of Canada). The summer course tends to be more general in scope than the fall course, where drafting practice examinations is emphasised.

    Once certified, a registered patent agent is given powers under the Patent Act (Canada) to represent applicants applying to the Canadian Patent Office to obtain patent protection. Canadian registered patent agents may apply for U.S. patent agent status in order to act on behalf of Canadian resident applicants before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

    European Patent Organisation The task of the European Patent Organisation (EPO), which is the main organ of the European Patent Organisation, is to grant European patents. The EPO is not legally bound to the European Union, instead being an international body set up under an entirely different international treaty, the European Patent Convention (EPC).

    In order to be entitled to represent clients (generally patent applicants, proprietors and opposition procedure before the European Patent Offices) before the EPO, a patent attorney must first be registered to act in that capacity as a professional representative. To be registered, an individual must qualify as a Representation before the European Patent Office and, to that end, must pass a pencil-and-paper examination, the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). European Patent Office web site, The European qualifying examination (EQE), consulted on November 23, 2006. The EQE consists of four papers sat over three days, each day lasting between 6 hours and seven and a half hours. In order to enroll for the examination, an engineering or scientific degree is required (though long experience in a scientific domain can be sufficient under certain very limited conditions), and the candidate must also have practised under supervision for at least three years in the domain of national or European patent law.

    The EPC sets out the circumstances under which an applicant for a European patent must be represented by a professional representative in proceedings before the EPO. Typically, a representative is required if the patent applicant (or all of them if more than one) do not have a place of business in an EPC contracting state.

    Germany In Germany, only Patent Attorneys (or Attorneys-at-Law, who are entitled to represent clients in all fields of law) are entitled to represent clients from abroad before the Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA). German Patent Attorneys have done their university degrees in engineering or natural sciences and practised in industry before being accepted for additional three years education, i. e. passing a legal training of two years with an established attorney, at the same time studies of German Law and afterwards a training in intellectual property and an examination at the DPMA. They are further entitled to represent their clients before the German federal court of patents (and trademarks) and in patent cases (nullity) before the German Supreme Court. However, independent from their nationality, any natural person or any legal person who does not domicile in Germany or who has no place of business in Germany needs to be represented by a German patent attorney or attorney-at-law to participate in procedures and to claim any rights before the DPMA and the German federal court of patents (Bundespatentgericht, BPatG), however not before the German Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) which is second instance for nullity proceedings in patents.

    Japan Patent specialists in Japan are known as benrishi and must take a qualifying exam to receive the title. While not qualified as attorneys, they are given many attorney-like powers within the field of intellectual property law, including the ability to represent clients in litigation and arbitration within the area specified by Patent Attorney Law in Japan. Barristers (bengoshi) are also qualified to work in patent law.

    New Zealand In order to become registered as a Patent Attorney in New Zealand one must:

  • Be a New Zealand citizen, Commonwealth citizen (British subject) or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
  • Be aged 21 (twenty one) years of age or over.
  • Have passed the New Zealand Patent Attorney Examinations.
  • Be of good character.
  • Been employed for a period(s) of at least three years by a Patent Attorney in New Zealand, The Patent Office, or in a form of employment that offers substantially similar practical experience.


    • Registration as a Patent Attorney may then lead to election as a Fellow in the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys.

    Singapore To become registered as a Patent Agent in Singapore, one must:Requirements For Becoming a Registered Patent Agent from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

  • be a resident in Singapore;
  • hold a university degree or equivalent qualification approved by the Registrar;
  • have passed the patent and trademark law course;
  • have passed the 4 patent examinationsPatent Agents Qualifying Examination from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; and
  • have been supervised by a registered patent agent(or equivalent) for at least 12 months.


    • Once registered a Patent agent may then be elected as an ordinary member of the Association of Patent Agents of Singapore.

    United Kingdom Any person can act at the UK Patent Office, but the titles "Patent Attorney" (which is synonymous with "Patent Agent") and "Registered Patent Attorney" (which is synonymous with "Registered Patent Agent") are reserved for those duly qualifiedCopyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 276.

    Qualification is achieved by passing the JEB patent foundation level papers (or gaining an exemption by passing certain university courses such as that organised by Queen Mary University in London) and then the JEB patent advanced level papersCopyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 275; Register of Patent Agents Rules 1990; Regulations for the Examinations for the Registration of Patent Agents & Trade Mark Agents 1991..

    The JEB patent foundation papers are P1 - Patent Law and Procedures, P5 - Overseas Patent Law, D&C - Designs & Copyright, Law - Basic English Law, T1 - Basic UK Trademarks and T5 - Overseas Trademarks.

    The JEB patent advanced papers are P2 - Patent Practice, P3 - Drafting a Patent Application, P4 - Amending a Patent Application and P6 - Infringement and Validity of a Patent. Exemptions from P3 and P4 can be obtained by passing the corresponding European Qualifying Exams (Papers A & B respectively).

    The advanced papers are notoriously difficult. In 2006 only eight candidates from the whole of the UK passed all four advanced papers.

    Membership of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys as a fellow gives the right to call oneself a Chartered Patent Agent or Chartered Patent Attorney. (To become a fellow, a person must have passed the UK Advanced Level exams, have accrued sufficient professional experience and be nominated by two existing fellowshttp://www.cipa.org.uk/download_files/application_form_uk.pdf CIPA Membership Application Form including extract from Bye Laws.

    United States In the United States, a practitioner may either be a patent attorney or patent agent. Both patent attorneys and patent agents have the same license to represent clients before the Patent Office, part of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Both patent agents and patent attorneys may prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications for their clients before the Patent Office. Patent agents and patent attorneys may also provide patentability opinions, as noted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sperry v. Florida.373 United States Reports 379 (1963).

    Patent attorneys are also Admission to the bar in the United States in at least one state or Incorporated territory of the United States. Of the states, California has the most patent attorneys (and agents), followed by New York and Texas http://www.averyindex.com/2007_patent_states.php Top Patent States. Per capita, Delaware has more patent attorneys (and agents) than any state (not including DC). Both Patent Attorneys and Patent Agents are generally required to have a technical degree (such as engineering, chemistry or Physics) and must take and pass the Patent Office Bar Examination.http://www.averyindex.com/2007_patent_states_pc.php Top Patent States (Per Capita). Since patent attorneys are admitted to practice law in a state or territory, they can additionally provide legal services outside the Patent Office if practicing within the jurisdiction they are admitted to practice or if the law of the jurisdiction otherwise permits them to practice although not admitted in that jurisdiction. These legal services include advising a client on matters relating to the licensing of the invention; whether to appeal a decision by the Patent Office to a court; whether to sue for patent infringement; whether someone is infringing upon the claim (patent)s of a client's issued patent; and conversely, whether a client is infringing the claims of someone else's issued patent. Patent agents cannot provide legal services of this nature, nor can they represent clients before the Trademark Office part of the USPTO.

    In order to be registered as a patent agent or patent attorney, one must pass the USPTO registration examinationhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/grb15nov05.pdf General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Nov. 2005. This exam, commonly referred to as the "patent bar," tests a candidate's knowledge of patent law and USPTO policies and procedures as set forth in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Upon completion of the examination, one will be labeled as a patent attorney if he/she already has a law degree. However, engineers, scientists and any other science based majors will be labeled as a patent agent since they can not give legal advice nor support clients in courtrooms. The latest exam result statistics are from June 9, 2005 through October 17, 2006: during that time, 58.2% of the 4,165 candidates passed the exam, which was based upon MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 2. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/exam_results_mpep8ed_rev2.htm The current exam is based on MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 4, as of October 19, 2006. (No tests were given based upon MPEP, 8th Edition, Revision 3.)

    A candidate must also have an adequate scientific and technical background or education to understand a client's invention. The educational requirement can be met by a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences (e.g. physics) or engineering. This is known as Category A qualification. One can also meet the scientific and technical training requirement by qualifying under Category B or Category C. Category B provides four distinct qualification options. Where each option sets a requisite number of semester hours in physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, and/or engineering. One can qualify under Category C through a showing that he or she has taken and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Specific details of the ways in which one can qualify for the USPTO registration examination are outlined in the USPTO Registration Statement. Degrees in the social sciences, mathematics or philosophy by themselves do not meet this requirement.

    A candidate must also possess "good moral character and reputation" (37 Code of Federal Regulations 11.7). If practicing outside the United States, a patent agent or patent attorney must be a U.S. citizen.

    India In India, a person registered to practice before Indian Patent Office is called as "Registered Patent Agent" or simply "Patent agent". A patent agent having a law degree is generally called as Patent Attorney, although Indian Patent Law specifically does not mention the designation of "Patent Attorney". Indian Patent Office conducts a qualifying examination for patent agent registration twice a year. Indian Patent Law mandates a science or technical degree for person(s) to appear for the qualifying examination. Other criteria for eligibility include being an Indian Citizen, and 21 years of age. There are approximately 1100 registered patent agents in India. However many of the patent agents got themselves registered without appearing for the qualifying examination before the amendment that took place recently has mandated the patent agent qualifying examination. It can also be inferred that many of them who got registered before the amendment took place do not have any science or technical degree.

    Ireland Under Section 107 of Ireland's Patents Act, 1992 entry in the Register of Patent Agents requires that the applicant resides and has a place in a European Union#Member states and possesses the prescribed educational and professional qualifications, which are:

    As in the UK (see above), exemptions from the Drafting and Amendment papers can be obtained if the equivalent papers in the European Qualifying Examination have been passed.

    Notable patent attorneys and agents See List of patent attorneys and agents, including fictional characters who are patent attorneys.

    References

    See also

    External links











     

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